The Historical Heart apartment is located magically just a few minutes’ walk away from Dam Square. You simply could not imagine a more central base for your holidays. Considered to be the historical heart of the city, it dates back to the 13th century. Today it is a great place to enjoy a frothy coffee outside one of the many perimeter cafes and do some people watching. You will see thousands of people crossing the square, watching the street theatre and having their pictures taken with the many pigeons and human statues here. It is up to you to decide which statues merit your loose change. Over the years the standard of the performers has gone downhill somewhat. Indeed most of them no longer stand still at all. Some however have intricate home-made costumes and are clearly experts in their chosen field of street theatricals. You will also notice the huge Royal Palace in the centre of the square. This is the official residence of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands when she is in town. Perhaps you might catch a glimpse of her when you are visiting.
Head south along Rokin to discover a wealth of popular city attractions including the spooky Amsterdam Dungeons. Here you can learn about the horrible history of the city and spend an hour or so being scared (in a fun way). There’s even a rollercoaster and a brilliant spooky gift shop at the end of the tour.
Further along the road lies the world famous Floating Flower market where you can see a wealth of unusual exotic plants on sale as well as authentic Dutch tulips and their bulbs which you can arrange to be sent home to loved ones as a gift.
Two minutes’ walk away is the incredible Tuschinski Cinema, possibly the world’s most beautiful picture house. This 90 year-old picture house has been preserved in all its Art Deco glory and the exterior is just as exciting as the inside. If you have time, pop inside and see the amazing foyer with its undulating colour changing ceiling. The cinema seats 2000 people and has three tiers as well as stalls seating therefore it really feels more like a theatre than a cinema. This is where all the biggest Dutch film premieres are held.
Just next door you will find the famous Rembrandt Square, one of the city’s most popular entertainment areas. Here you can enjoy a cool Dutch beer and a meal outside under the giant umbrellas before a night out on the town exploring the various bars and nightclubs that pepper the area.
Getting to and from Central Station is extremely easy as it is only a ten minute walk away from the apartment. If you are carrying heavy luggage then you can always hop on any tram travelling down Damrak.
